Editing Llanfynydd

{{about|a village in Carmarthenshire|the village in Flintshire|Llanfynydd, Flintshire}}
{{Short description|Village and community in Carmarthenshire, Wales}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox UK place
| type = Village and [[Community (Wales)|community]]
| country = Wales
| static_image_name = Church - geograph.org.uk - 156025.jpg
| static_image_caption = Llanfynydd Parish Church in 2006
| coordinates = {{coord|51.928|N|4.098|W|region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SN558275)|display=title}}
| unitary_wales = [[Carmarthenshire]]
| module= [[File:Wales Carmarthenshire Community Llanfynydd map.svg|240px]]<br />Map of the community
}}
'''Llanfynydd''' is a village, parish and [[Community (Wales)|community]] in [[Carmarthenshire]], Wales. The community population at the [[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 census]] was 499.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11125894&c=SA32+7TB&d=16&e=62&g=6492287&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1429109684984&enc=1 |title=Community population 2011 |access-date=15 April 2015}}</ref> It lies some 10 miles (16 km) north-east of the county town, [[Carmarthen]]. Bordering it are the communities of [[Llansawel]], [[Talley]], [[Manordeilo and Salem]], [[Llangathen]], [[Llanegwad]] and [[Llanfihangel Rhos-y-Corn]], all in Carmarthenshire.

==Heritage==
The Church in Wales parish church is a Grade II* listed building dedicated to [[Saint Egwad|St Egwad]], a 7th-century bishop in Wales. The tower, probably the earliest part, dates from about 1400. The north aisle was added in the 16th century. The building was restored in 1861, when further windows were added.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stuff |first=Good |title=Church of St Egwad, Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire |url=https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/300010927-church-of-st-egwad-llanfynydd |access-date=2024-02-02 |website=britishlistedbuildings.co.uk}}</ref> The only indication of a previous church further up the valley is in the name of a farm: Bryn-Yr-Eglwys ("Hill of the Church").

In 1844 Llanfynydd was a parish of 11,000 acres and 1,358 inhabitants in Cathinog Hundred. By 1929 the population was down to 581.<ref name=GENUKI>{{Cite web |title=GENUKI |url=http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/Llanfynydd/ |access-date=4 December 2014}}</ref>

===Worship===
Parish registers exist from 1692. The parish also has several chapels.<ref name=GENUKI/>

===Education===
D. Jones, a local clergyman, established a day school in Llanfynydd in 1738, for 20 children.<ref name=GENUKI/>

The number of pupils at the school had fallen to 11 by September 2013, with a deficit of £50,000, and Carmarthenshire County Council warned that the school would close if numbers fell below 10.<ref>{{Cite news |publisher=Carmarthen Journal |date=11 September 2013 |title=Llanfynydd Primary School could close if just two pupils leave |url=http://www.carmarthenjournal.co.uk/Llanfynydd-Primary-School-close-just-pupils-leave/story-19778948-detail/story.html |access-date=4 December 2014}}</ref>

However, in December 2014 the BBC reported that though the school had no pupils, it could not be closed until the county council had held a consultation and a vote on the issue.<ref>{{Cite news |publisher=BBC |date=3 December 2014 |title=Primary with no pupils kept open in Carmarthenshire by 'red tape' |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-30316593 |access-date=3 December 2014}}</ref>

==Public protest==
In July 2004, in protest over plans to erect a [[wind farm]] nearby, the residents of Llanfynydd renamed their village ''Llanhyfryddawelllehynafolybarcudprindanfygythiadtrienusyrhafnauole''
("lovely silent church, ancient place of the rare kite under wretched threat from misplaced blades") for the space of one week.<ref name="Llanfynydd">BBC News website (Jan. 30, 2007). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/3904491.stm " Long Winded Village Name Protest"]. Retrieved on July 19, 2004.</ref><!-- Unsourced image removed: [[Image:Llanfynydd_name.jpg|Llanfynydd children display their village's new name.|center|frame|]] -->

The name was chosen to reflect villagers' concern that the wind farm would threaten three endangered species of bird (the [[red kite]], the [[Eurasian Curlew|curlew]], and the [[skylark]])<ref>[https://www.rspb.org.uk/globalassets/downloads/documents/birds-and-wildlife/birds-of-conservation-concern-4--the-population-status-of-birds-in-the-united-kingdom-channel-islands-and-the-isle-of-man.pdf RSPB listing. Retrieved 7 April 2020.]</ref>{{fv|date=June 2023|reason=this list of birds doesn't mention either the wind farm or the red kite}} and to generate publicity for their cause by being longer than the previously longest place name in the [[UK]]: that of [[Llanfair PG|Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch]] in [[Anglesey]].

The protest went ahead despite assurances from the local council and from the Spanish-owned developers Gamesa Energy UK (part of [[Gamesa Corporación Tecnológica]]) that the single [[wind turbine]] planned was intended merely as a test to see how suitable the area might be for wind turbines in the future.

==Notable people==
* [[John Dyer]] (1699–1757), a painter and Welsh poet who became a priest in the Church of England
* [[Thomas Rees (Congregational minister)|Thomas Rees]] (1815–1885), Congregational minister and historian of nonconformity, was born at Pen Pontbren, Llanfynydd; twice elected to chair the [[Union of Welsh Independents]].<ref>{{Cite DWB |last=Jenkins |first=R. T. |title=Rees, Thomas (1815–1885), Independent minister, and historian |id=s-REES-THO-1815 |access-date=27 September 2019}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Llanfynydd, Carmarthenshire|Llanfynydd}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050406115902/http://www.llanegwad-carmarthen.co.uk/ch3llanfynydd.htm Church website]
*[http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/wal/CMN/Llanfynydd/ Historical information on GENUKI]
*[https://www.geograph.org.uk/search.php?i=2749563 Photographs of Llanfynydd and surrounding area on Geograph]
*[http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/2600 A Vision of Britain through Time - Llanfynydd]
*{{oscoor gbx|SN556278}}

{{Communities of Carmarthenshire}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Communities in Carmarthenshire]]
[[Category:Villages in Carmarthenshire]]